Owen Howkins was born in 2002 with a rare condition that made his muscles stiff and movement painful. Growing up, everyday moments that most children took for granted felt like mountains to climb. The world outside often seemed too overwhelming, too unkind—and so Owen stayed in the background, quiet and withdrawn, wrapped in a shell of shyness and uncertainty. Life was a lonely road, and his family could only do so much to ease the weight he carried. But then came Haatchi—and with him, everything began to change.
Owen Howkins was born in Basingstoke, England, in 2002. His parents, Will and Kim, were overjoyed to bring him home to a warm, loving family. However, they soon learned devastating news.
Not long after his birth, Owen was diagnosed with Schwartz-Jampel syndrome, a rare condition that affects muscle movement. It was a lot to take in.
From the very beginning, Will and Kim knew their son’s life wouldn’t be simple. Owen would face obstacles that most people don’t. But he wouldn’t be facing them alone.
Doctors explained to Owen’s parents that this extremely rare disease would mean their son’s muscles would stay permanently tight, even when he was trying to rest.
His joints would be stiff, limiting his movement. His face might appear frozen or tense, with barely blinking eyes and difficulty smiling or speaking with ease.
Simple things—walking, playing, even holding a pencil—would become daily challenges. It was clear from the start that Owen’s body would always push back harder than most.
Owen really struggled during his first years of life. Because of his condition, he was wheelchair-bound, and even the smallest movements took a great deal of effort.
But the physical challenges weren’t the hardest part. Owen was shy, withdrawn, and deeply afraid of being around other people. Crowds made him nervous. Attention made him anxious.
“I didn’t really meet many others with disabilities and felt like the odd one out, which made me really sad,” he said in an interview with the BBC.
Owen’s early childhood wasn’t just hard on him—it was hard on his parents too. Will and Kim did everything they could, but the stress took a toll.
The constant hospital visits, emotional weight, and uncertainty wore heavily on their marriage. Despite their love for Owen, the couple eventually decided to separate.
After the split, Will became Owen’s primary caretaker. It wasn’t an easy road, but he was determined to give his son all the support and love he needed.
Life began to shift again when Will met Colleen Drummond—a kind-hearted, spirited woman from New Zealand who also happened to be a skilled dog trainer.
Colleen wasn’t just supportive—she was transformative. Her deep love for animals, gentle strength, and natural warmth brought comfort and hope into Will and Owen’s lives.
She quickly became more than a partner. Colleen embraced their challenges without hesitation, and in doing so, helped rebuild their family—stronger, steadier, and ready for what came next.
It was Colleen who first suggested the idea. She believed a dog might help Owen come out of his shell and feel a little less alone.
As a dog trainer, she’d seen the healing power animals could bring—and she had a feeling Owen might just need that kind of friend in his life.
One day, while browsing online, she came across a post: a three-legged Anatolian shepherd had just arrived at a nearby shelter. His name was Haatchi—and everything was about to change.
Haatchi’s life began in heartbreak. As a young puppy, someone tied him to a railway line and left him there—alone, helpless, and unable to escape.
No one ever discovered who was responsible for the cruelty. But just before it was too late, a passerby witnessed the horrifying scene and rushed to help.
He was taken to an animal hospital in North London for life-saving surgery, he barely made it. Still, he was about to face a terrible fate.
Though he had a will to survive, Haatchi’s future was still uncertain. His injuries were serious, and the cost of ongoing care made adoption unlikely.
Attempts to foster him didn’t go well either. Energetic but unsteady, Haatchi was too large and clumsy for most homes, and each trial ended with him being returned.
After surviving a train accident, authorities were considering putting him down —until a rescue charity stepped in just in time. And not long after, Colleen saw his photo online…
Just like Owen, Haatchi didn’t quite fit in. At the shelter, he stood apart from the other dogs—gentle, quiet, and strangely alone.
Without a tail, Haatchi struggled to communicate. Dogs use their tails to signal everything—fear, excitement, friendliness. Without his, it was as if Haatchi had lost his voice.
The other dogs didn’t know what to make of him. Some avoided him completely. His missing leg, his bandaged stump, the smell of disinfectant—it all set him apart.
Haatchi struggled with phantom limb pain. He’d try to scratch behind his ear with his missing leg, only to jolt his stump and whimper softly.
The repeated pain left him confused and distressed. He couldn’t understand why his body betrayed him, and the frustration often turned into quiet, lonely moments of sadness.
He became withdrawn and distrustful of people, flinching from hands that tried to help. But when Colleen sat beside him, something in him finally began to soften.
When Haatchi finally settled into Colleen’s lap, something shifted. He rolled onto his back and gently offered her his leg stump—bald, red, and stitched.
Colleen looked at him and softly asked, “Can I touch it?” Haatchi didn’t flinch. As she placed her hand on the hot skin, he curled completely around her. His tiny stump of a tail began to wag.
“From that moment I was sold,” Colleen said. “Haatchi had chosen us, not the other way around. There is something truly spiritual about him. I was in love and I knew in my heart that we belonged to him.”
That night, when Colleen got home, she burst into tears. She told Will how incredible Haatchi was—and how deeply sad his story had made her.
They were given two weeks to decide. Haatchi was large, injured, and needed special care. This wasn’t just about love—it had to be the right choice for their family.
Will was protective of Owen above all. “If there’s even one growl,” he told Colleen firmly, “then Haatchi is out.” This had to be a perfect fit—for everyone.
After careful thought and consideration, Will and Colleen decided to take a chance on Haatchi. Two weeks later, they returned to the shelter—he was finally coming home.
They didn’t tell Owen. He had always loved surprises, and they wanted this one to be unforgettable. He had no idea who was about to join the family.
By the time Colleen arrived home that night, Owen was fast asleep. They quietly closed his bedroom door and let Haatchi limp through the house, exploring his new world.
After exploring every corner of the house, Haatchi kept circling back to one place—Owen’s bedroom door. Curious and calm, he gently sniffed at it.
They opened the door quietly. Haatchi had been a whirlwind through the house. But the moment he stepped into Owen’s room, everything changed. He slowed down.
He noticed the oxygen mask and tubing. Haatchi sniffed the air, tiptoed closer, tilted his head thoughtfully… then backed away, completely silent. He understood.
The next morning, Will gently woke his son at 7 a.m., sitting on the edge of the bed as Owen—his little “sleep slug”—rubbed his eyes and yawned.
“I’ve got a big surprise for you,” Will said, and just like that, Owen perked up—wide-eyed, smiling, full of anticipation. Will called out for Colleen to bring Haatchi in.
Owen’s mouth dropped open. Haatchi lolloped into the room and calmly rested his head on Owen’s leg. They locked eyes—and melted. It was love at first sight—for both of them.
For Colleen, the moment Owen and Haatchi met was unforgettable. She described it later as if the entire atmosphere in the room changed in a heartbeat.
“It was utterly electric—a combination of pure love and acceptance,” she said. “It’s hard to describe the connection between the two of them. It was like they were reconnecting.”
She watched, completely in awe. “It felt more like old friends meeting again than strangers. I only wish I’d had a video camera to capture it forever.”
Will couldn’t stop thinking about how natural it all seemed. Neither Owen nor Haatchi flinched or hesitated—they just saw each other and understood, in their own way.
Haatchi wasn’t what people expected of a dog—he was different, scarred, and limping. But Owen didn’t care. He saw past all that without missing a beat.
To Will, that meant something. “Haatchi was just getting on with life,” he thought. “And Owen saw that. It struck a chord—because that’s exactly what Owen was trying to do too.”
Not long after meeting Haatchi, Owen asked the question they knew would come: “What happened to his leg?” Will and Colleen didn’t want to lie—but the truth hurt.
They explained gently, as best they could, what Haatchi had been through. As the story unfolded, Owen quietly cried, stroking Haatchi’s big, warm head the entire time.
“Why would anyone do that?” he asked through tears. Will and Colleen didn’t have an answer. “But the police will catch them and tell them off,” they assured him. That helped. A little.
That weekend, something quiet and powerful happened—Owen and Haatchi became inseparable. Owen pulled himself into his walker and made his way to the living room, Haatchi trailing loyally behind.
They curled up together on the sofa, side by side, as if they’d always belonged that way. Owen stroked Haatchi’s fur and leaned in close, whispering softly into his ear.
For the rest of the weekend, they were never apart—bed, sofa, floor—it didn’t matter. A bond had formed that only they could truly understand.
From the very first day Haatchi set foot in their home, his story began to touch the hearts of strangers—even those who had never met him.
Wanting the best for Haatchi, Colleen and Will decided to keep him on a raw-food diet. She found a company called and placed an order, but they needed a freezer first, so she called to delay the delivery.
When she shared Haatchi’s story, the company offered something that left Colleen in tears: free food for life. Haatchi’s journey was already inspiring acts of kindness they never saw coming.
Things were finally looking up for Owen and his family. Haatchi had brought comfort, laughter, and a kind of healing they hadn’t felt in years.
Feeling grateful and excited, Colleen decided to create a Facebook page for Haatchi—after all, that’s where she’d found him. It only felt right to give him a voice.
For his very first post, Haatchi “wrote”: “Feb 14 – Happy Valentine’s Day! It is even more special for me as today I secured my forever home! Bring on the love!” Colleen had no idea her son and this three-legged dog were about to capture hearts all over the world.
It didn’t take long for Owen and Haatchi’s story to spread. People were deeply moved by the bond between a quiet boy and his brave dog.
What started as a simple Facebook page soon exploded. Likes, comments, and messages poured in. Within weeks, the page had reached over 225,000 people across the world.
The story resonated far beyond their little home. Before long, newspapers, magazines, and TV crews came calling. Owen and Haatchi became a symbol of hope.
As Owen and Haatchi’s story touched hearts around the world, it did more than inspire—it earned Haatchi a national honor. In 2013, he won the Crufts Friends for Life award.
Crufts is the world’s largest dog show, held annually in the UK. The Friends for Life award celebrates dogs who have changed lives through loyalty, bravery, or companionship.
Haatchi was chosen for the way he transformed Owen’s world—helping him gain confidence, feel less alone, and face life with courage.
As the media took notice of their story, Owen was often asked what made Haatchi so special. His answers were simple, honest—and unforgettable.
“I used to be scared of strangers, then Haatchi came along and now I’m not,” he explained. “And that’s how he changed my life,” he told the BBC.
“I didn’t really meet many others with disabilities and felt like the odd one out, which made me really sad,” he added. “But when I saw Haatchi and saw how strong he was, even though he only had three legs, I became stronger myself. I love him so much.”
When Will and Colleen got married, there was never any question about who would stand by their side—Owen was best man, and Haatchi was best dog.
Dressed in a little suit and bowtie, Owen beamed with pride, while Haatchi, calm, steady, and loyal, stood close, tail gently wagging as if he understood the moment.
It was more than symbolic. That day showed the world what the family already knew: Haatchi wasn’t just a pet. He was family, through and through.
Shortly after Haatchi won the Crufts Friends for Life award, a short documentary about his and Owen’s journey was published on YouTube for the world to see.
The video captured their bond beautifully—Haatchi’s resilience, Owen’s transformation, and the quiet magic between them. Viewers from around the globe were deeply moved by their story.
The response was overwhelming. The video gained over 5 million views, and countless comments poured in. People weren’t just watching—they were feeling it, and many said they cried.
The story of Owen and Haatchi didn’t end online. In 2014, it was turned into a book titled Haatchi & Little B by Wendy Holden.
The title comes from Owen’s family nickname, “Little B,” short for “Little Buddy”—a name they’d lovingly called him since he was small and full of wonder.
The book shared their journey in full—challenges, triumphs, and everything in between. It gave readers a deeper look at the powerful friendship that changed both of their lives.
One of the most incredible things to come from Owen and Haatchi’s story wasn’t just the love they shared—it was the awareness they raised.
Because of the visibility from their Facebook page and media attention, families around the world began recognizing symptoms that mirrored Owen’s. It helped put long-standing questions into focus.
In the eight years since their story went public, at least five people have been diagnosed with Schwartz-Jampel syndrome after seeing Owen online. That kind of impact? Life-changing.
Owen’s story reached far beyond his home—and eventually, it led to a powerful new friendship with a boy named Giovanni, who lived in the United States.
Giovanni, like Owen, had Schwartz-Jampel syndrome. After hearing about Owen and Haatchi, he reached out. The two connected instantly-
Owen even traveled to the U.S. to meet Giovanni in person. They became close friends, and Owen offered heartfelt advice—especially about handling bullies.
Owen’s incredible bond with Haatchi didn’t just move hearts—it opened doors to unforgettable experiences. One of the most special moments came at the Animal Hero Awards.
There, Owen was honored for his inspiring story and got to meet one of his personal heroes: Brian May, the legendary guitarist from Queen and a devoted animal rights advocate.
It was a surreal moment for Owen—a reminder of how far he and Haatchi had come. Their story had become a symbol of love and strength recognized around the world.
In 2020, Owen and Haatchi faced one of their hardest challenges yet—not an illness or injury, but the heartbreak of having to live apart.
As the COVID-19 pandemic spread, Owen moved to Oxford to stay with his mother. Colleen, stepmum, was a frontline volunteer—and keeping Owen safe meant difficult choices.
They were separated for months. ‘It was really hard saying goodbye to Haatchi,’ explained Owen to the Daily Mail. “He’s my best friend in the world. I tell him everything and snuggle up with him each night because he’s so big and cuddly.”
During their time apart, Haatchi spent his days with his nose pressed to the window of the Howkins’ home in quiet, leafy Basingstoke.
The three-legged Anatolian Shepherd kept watch, day after day, waiting anxiously for his best friend. He didn’t understand why Owen hadn’t come home.
Owen only saw Haatchi through his iPad, missing him terribly. But when they finally reunited—and Owen was healthy—every second of waiting had been worth it.
After eight wonderful years with the family, 2019 brought heartbreaking news: Haatchi was diagnosed with laryngeal paralysis, a condition that affects breathing and swallowing.
At first, they managed it with care and routine. But by 2021, the signs had worsened, and the family feared the condition was starting to advance more quickly.
It was painful to face. Haatchi had been their rock, their joy, their healer. Now, it was their turn to be strong—for him.
Haatchi passed away at nine years old, surrounded by the love that had carried him through the most extraordinary life a dog could ever live.
In his final hours, Owen, now fifteen, never left his side. He slept on the floor next to Haatchi, arms wrapped tightly around his best friend, refusing to let go.
As Haatchi slipped away, he did so in Owen’s embrace. “I fell asleep in my Owen’s arms,” the family wrote, “with my heart free of cancer—because there was too much love in it for it to get in there.”
Owen and Haatchi’s journey is more than just a boy-and-his-dog tale—it’s a powerful reminder of what love, acceptance, and connection can truly do.
Together, they showed the world that being different doesn’t mean being broken. In fact, sometimes it’s the broken pieces that make space for the most beautiful bonds.
As Owen once said, “When I saw Haatchi and saw how strong he was, even though he only had three legs, I became stronger myself.” And through that strength, they changed countless lives—including their own.
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